Once...

 Title: Once
                                                 Includes:
                                                              Before Midnight

                                                              Golden

                                                              Wild Orchid

                                       Author: Cameron Dokey
                                       Previous Work: How NOT to Spend your Senior Year
                                                                  16 other stories in the Once Upon a Time 
                                                                   series 

                                       Summary: Before Midnight- Cendrillon has always wanted
                                       love. Her father refuses to give it to her and her stepmother
                                       seems distant. Could a royal ball be the answer to her
                                       troubles?
                                       Golden- Rapunzel was born without hair. Her mother,
                                       unable to love her, gave her to a sorceress to be raised.
                                       However when she finds the sorceress had her own intents
                                       behind raising her, can Rapunzel swallow her pride and help
                                       her foster mother?
                                       Wild Orchid- When Mulan's father comes back after years of
                                       being away, she is not the daughter he expected, but he still
                                       learns to love her. When he is called away to war Mulan takes
                                       action, replacing him in the line up.
                                       Rating: This book is a 3.
                                       Awards: None
                                     
                                       Opinion: The books were very well written and the plots well
                                       thought out. However many of the same central themes
                                       repeated and the girls seemed to have the same issues. The
                                       best story in here was Before Midnight, in my opinion. The
                                       book was an interesting read at most, a slight let down at
                                       least. However I will be checking the library for more by this
                                       author.

Christmas Miracle

 Title: The Legend of Holly Claus
                                     # of Pages: 544
                                     Author: Brittney Ryan
                                     Illustrator: Laurel Long
                                     Previous Work: 
                                     The author has been involved in many theatrical works.
                                     The illustrator has illustrated 7 other books, most of them
                                     under 40 pages.

                                     Summary: This story begins with a little boy asking Santa
                                     what has never before been asked. "What do you wish
                                     for Christmas, Santa?" Then Holly Claus is born.
                                     Unfortunately she has the purest heart ever existing and an
                                     evil Warlock hatches a plan to steal it for his own personal
                                     gain. A magical life and adventure follows.
                                     Rating: Definitely a 5.
                                     Awards: 
                                     Part of  "The Julie Andrews Collection"
                                     Opinion: This book may sound cheesy, but it is very
                                     eloquently written. The plot is unpredictable, the characters
                                     endearing. Plus the illustrations are so gorgeous and detailed
                                     you could stare at them for a half an hour and still not be
                                     satisfied. However I must warn fans of "Quicky books" this
                                     story is 522 pages (Not including "The Characters and Places
                                     of Forever") long. It is totally worth it, though; I've read this
                                     book 3 times, only one of those times being at Christmas. And
                                     it is still amazing! (The picture shown below is on the back of
                                     the book, with the bottom cut off.)

The Land of Immortals

                                   

                                     
                                     

Gimme a Future

Title: Gimme a Call
                                   # of Pages: 320
                                   Author: Sarah Mlynowski
                                   Previous Work: (Divided as the author did)
                                                        Teen novels:
                                                        Bras & Broomsticks 

                                                        Frogs & French Kisses 
                                                       
                                                        Spells & Sleeping Bags,

                                                        Parties & Potions

                                                        How To Be Bad
                                        
                                                        Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't 
                                                        Have)
                                  
                                                        Non-Fiction: See Jane Write
                                  
                                                        Five adult novels
                                  
                                                        Nine short stories

                                     Summary: Devi's boyfriend Bryan was everything to her.
                                     When he breaks up before prom, she's devastated. Then to top
                                      it all off she drops her phone in the fountain at the mall.
                                      However, she realizes it still calls one number. Her number
                                      from three and a half years ago right before she meets her
                                      boyfriend. Devi realizes she has to stop younger Devi from
                                      dating Bryan to get her life back on track.

                                      Rating: I give this book a  3.5.
                                     Awards: A movie is "in development"!
                                      Coming Soon. net
                                 

                                     Opinion: I really like this book, but it's because of younger
                                     Devi (Frosh) not older Devi (Ivy). Older Devi seems controlling
                                     and only care about the feelings of herself, not the work she's
                                     making younger Devi do. Other than that I feel it's a great
                                     story.

Thine Eyes Hath Seen

 Title: Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller
                                      # of Pages: 240
                                     Author: Sarah Miller
                                     Previous Work: 
                                                        Wrote for 4 magazines

                                     Summary: Annie Sullivan knows that now that she can see
                                     she needs to find her own way in the world. So she decides
                                     to teach blind and deaf, Helen Keller. So far only one person
                                     has been able to teach the blind-deaf (and he only managed to
                                     do it once)! But Anne immediately feels a connection with
                                     Helen and is determined to help her.
                                     Rating: This book gets a 4. You really connected with Annie,
                                     both from her actions with Helen and her own troubled past.
                                     Awards: 
                                     ALA Best Books For Young Adults
                                   
                                     Booklist Editors' Choice

                                     Jefferson Cup Honor Book

                                     Awards (or nominations) in- Alabama
                                                                                 Kansas
                                                                                 South Dakota
                                                                                 South Carolina
                                                                                 Virginia
                       
                                     Opinion: This book provided an interesting view into Anne
                                     Sullivan's life I highly suggest you read it. (Though it ended
                                     at the "water pump breakthrough" while I would have
                                     preferred it go further.)
                                     Extra: I know the sign language alphabet, but many people
                                     don't. Since the book didn't include one I'll add a dictionary
                                     right here.

Sign Language Alphabet, Numbers, and Highly Used Words

                                 

                                     
                                                           
                               

     

Contest Book

I wasn't sure about reading this book, but I entered the contest for a free advanced copy, anyway. I figured if it wasn't good I could sell it. (It didn't come and I ended up getting a signed copy instead, but that's another story!- Thanks ThisIsTeen!) However, I only review "good" books on my blog so you know it worked out!

 Title: Endangered
                                      # of Pages: 272

                                     Author: Eliot Schrefer 

                                     Previous Work: 

                                                          2 novels for adults

                                                          

                                                          The Deadly Sister

                                                          

                                                          The School for Dangerous Girls

                                     Summary: Sophie has never quite understood her mother's

                                     passion for the Bonobo apes. However when she finds one

                                     (whom she names Otto) she decides to care for him.

                                     But when the Bonobo sanctuary is attacked Sophie and Otto

                                     must survive in a war torn country. 

                                     Rating: 4.5, because this book sometimes contradicts my

                                     beliefs, claiming speculation as a fact.

                                     Awards: 

                                     2012 National Book Award Finalist 

                                     for Young People's Literature

                                     2012 Cybils Nomination

                                     Opinion: This book was amazing. My favorite part is the 

                                     question Sophie grapples with most of the book. Is it really

                                     okay to save an animal when so many people are suffering?

                                      I thought this book would be "run, run, save the monkey!" 

                                      (When really Bonobos aren't even monkeys!) But I was 

                                      pleasantly surprised at the depth of the story. It was really
                                      good Don't be like me and write it off before you start it.
                                      You'll be missing out on a great story!

Be Thankful

Okay, so first off, I'd like to apologize for the fact that my last post was over a month ago! I've had a lot of things I needed to do. Secondly, this is a Thanksgiving post! This book shows you really need to be thankful for what you have; it can all be taken away from you. That said, I'd really appreciate it if  my viewers would post a comment on what they were thankful for. That would be great!

 Title: A Long, Long Sleep
                                      # of Pages: 382

                                     Author: Anna Sheehan

                                     Previous Work: 

                                                        None, but the author says a sequel to this book is

                                                        "in the works, but I’m afraid I have no idea when 

                                                         such a thing may be published."(I found this fact 

                                                         on her website if you want more info.)

                                     

                                     Summary: What if your parents put you in stasis (a state of 

                                     sleep) and you wake up 62 years later? What if the world

                                     had a mini apocalypse while you were asleep and everyone

                                     you knew was seemingly gone? What if you were expected

                                     to take over an inter-planetary empire when you grew up?

                                     And to top it all off, what if a crazy human-like robot was

                                     hunting you? Meet Rosalinda Fitzroy- she lived that life.

                                     Rating: This book was a little sad but definitely a 5.

                                     Awards: 

                                                A tie for the 2012 Golden Duck/ Hal Clement Award

                                                (The other winner was A Beautiful Friendship by 

                                                 David Weber, if you're interested.)

                                     Opinion: This was really good, though sad. It has many twists

                                     and turns; plot changes you won't expect. It annoyed me how 

                                     fast Rose fell for a guy, but the reason is made evident at the 

                                     end of the book. Surprisingly, Rose wasn't my favorite

                                     character. Her friend Otto is. He's a half Europan (as in 

                                     Europa) half human test tube baby. He has an amazing power

                                     of talking to people by touching them and speaking in their

                                     minds. He wants to be friends with Rose, but they hit a major

                                     roadblock. I won't say any more, for fear of giving something

                                     away. Altogether this was a great book.

                              

                                                  

                                                             

Strange Occurences Part 2

Title: Abby Carnelia's One & Only Magical Power
                                       # of Pages: 288
                                      Author: David Pogue
                                      Previous Work:
                                                             Personal Technology collumnist for
                                                             the New York Times

                                                             Wrote or Co-Wrote seven books in
                                                             the For Dummies series, including
                                                             Magic for Dummies
                                     
                                      Summary: Abby Carnelia is average in evey way. Or so she
                                      thinks... One day she's cutting up hardboiled eggs for a salad
                                      and tugs on her ears. The egg begins to spin on the table!
                                      Abby is shocked. She begins to experiment, but finds that is
                                      the only power she has. Desperate to find out more she
                                      enrolls in a magic camp- and ends up having the adventure
                                      of a lifetime!
                                      Rating: Surprisingly this book was REALLY good. It's a 4.
                                      Awards:

                                      2012 Geneva School District Viking Award Nominee

                                                      Volunteer State book award Nominee 2013-2014
                                                       (state unknown)

                                       Opinion: I love Abby. She's so real! At one point she says,
                                       "Okay,gimme the egg." When her freind asks why she
                                        replies, "It's my lunch!" The other main character, Ben is
                                        well done, but I thought the charcter developement of
                                        Ricky and Eliza could have used some work. (Ricky more
                                        so than Eliza.) The book was very fun though, and I
                                        couldn't put it down. Plus it has a very good message at
                                        the end, which otherwise would have been lacking.
                                 

Strange Occurences Part 1

 Title: The Queen of Second Place
                                          Queen B
                                  Author: Laura Peyton Roberts
                                  Previous Work: (In Alphabetical Order)
                                                        Clearwater Crossing Series
                                                     
                                                        Ghost of a Chance
                                                        
                                                        Green

                                   Summary:

My Personal Philosophy of Talent
by Cassie Howard

                                 I have this theory that everybody has a talent. Rich, poor,

                                 clueless—it doesn't matter. I honestly believe that every human

                                 being on earth is born with one special gift. The problem is, 
                                 not all talents are created equal. People think that talent means 
                                 you sing, or dance, or act. But those are the glory talents, the
                                 ones that everyone wants, and for every diva out there, about 
                                 a million other people are walking around with one of the 
                                 lesser gifts, the kind that don't get their own videos.    

                                  
                               Everyone has a talent, is Cassie's philosophy. They could
                            be normal and simple, like whistling. Or they could be like
                            hers- always getting second place. She's tired of her
                            talent and so when her nemesis sets out to have the new
                            boy Kevin (who Cassie has a crush on) as her boyfriend
                            Cassie is determined to stop her in any way possible.
                            (Queen  B is about what happens after this book.)  
                              Rating: 4
                              Awards: (For Queen of Second Place)
                                       Florida Teens Read List

                                       Young Adult Sequoyah Masterlist

                                       (For Queen B)
                                  
                                        Flamingnet Top Choice Award Winner
                      
                                        Sweet 16 Magazine "Super Summer Read"

                                        Kliatt starred review    

                                 Opinion: This book has a really interesting format. You
                                 start in the middle, with Cassie in detention, and she
                                 catches you up. The characters are quirky and Cassie is
                                 real. The only reason these books aren't a 5 is because at
                                 points the book  is stressful. These are really good books
                                 to read.        

Drama Geek Heaven Part 2

     Title: D is for Drama
                                          # of Pages: 272
                                          Author: Jo Whittemore
                                          Previous Work: (In chronological order)
                                                                  Escape from Arylon
                                                                  
                                                                  Curse of Arstold

                                                                  Onaj's Horn
                                                                  
                                                                  Front Page Face-Off
                                                                  
                                                                  Odd Girl In

                                           Summary: Sunny Kim knows she's a great actress,
                                           but at her school she can't seem to get good roles.
                                           When she finds out her friend rejected her for the
                                           part of Mary Poppins because she's Asian, she's
                                           furious. To prove herself she applies for a one-man
                                           show. But as things always go wrong in Candy Apple
                                           or Mix books, she endsup with a full cast production
                                           of Wicked, having only the school's acting rejects and
                                           a budget of $1,000.
                                           Rating: I give this book a 3.
                                           Awards: None

                                           Opinion: I used to love a Candy Apple book with a
                                           similar plot line, but this one puts it to shame. This
                                           book is so true to real problems in the drama world.
                                           Plus you just love Sunny, even when she obviously
                                           makes the wrong choice. All together it is an
                                           interesting read for girls.  
                                                              

Drama Geek Heaven Part 1

For this section I'll be doing my first series review (so exciting!) and reviewing a stand alone book. This is for all the drama geeks like me out there.
Title: Théâtre Illuminata Trilogy-
                                                 Eyes Like Stars
                                                 Perchance to Dream
                                                 So Silver Bright
                                       Author: Lisa Mantchev
                                       Previous Work: These books are the only ones she's 
                                       written.  
                                       
                                       Summary: Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the 
                                       characters of every play ever written can be found behind 
                                       the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are 
                                       bound to the Théâtre by The Book--an ancient and magical
                                       tome of scripts. Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not one of 
                                       them, but they are her family--and she is about to lose them 
                                       all and the only home she has ever known.  

                                       In this series Bertie and her friends must save their Theatre,
                                       and in some cases their lives, with the help of Bertie and her 
                                       hidden magical power to write things into existence. She 
                                       herself has many challenges to overcome along the way. Does
                                       she love the pirate, Nate or the mysterious air spirit, Ariel? 
                                       Who are her parents? And where does she come from?
                                       Rating: I give this series a definite 5.
                                       Awards: (For Eyes Like Stars)
                                       Nominated for- 
                                       2009 Andre Norton Award for 
                                       Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy

                                       2010 Mythopoeic Award for 
                                       Children's Literature

                                       Has a Kirkus starred review

                                       Opinion: These books were amazing. I learned so much 
                                       about famous theatrical characters and was enthralled with 
                                       Bertie. The story is so in depth, you feel as though you know
                                       the characters by the series' end. I highly recommend this 
                                       trilogy, not only to drama geeks, but to any one who loves
                                       reading. 

Birthday Part 2

  Title: The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell
                                       # of Pages: 438
                                       Author: Chris Colfer
                                       Previous Work: He hasn't written any other books
                                       besides this one, but his bio says he was on Glee as
                                       Kurt Hummel.
                                     
                                       Summary:  Alex Bailey and her twin brother Connor
                                       are still dealing with the aftermath of their father's death
                                       when their twelfth birthday rolls around. They expect it
                                       to pass without much celebration, and so are shocked
                                       when their grandma shows up, presenting then with a
                                       family heirloom- a book of fairy tales. Soon after they
                                       receive the book they are sucked inside of it. Energetic
                                       teacher's pet Alex is overjoyed to meet her favorite
                                       characters. Jokester Connor, surprisingly, wants to get
                                       home right away. But getting home isn't that easy and
                                       their adventure changes them forever.
                                       Rating:  I give this book a 4.
                                       Awards:
                                       #1 on the New York Times best seller list for children
                                   
                                      #3 on the Indie best seller list for children

                                       Opinion: This was a REALLY  good book. The
                                       characters were so interwoven that without one story
                                       the others would fail. The villain wasn't really a villain,
                                       you find out a shocking fact towards the end, plus other
                                       bits and pieces make this book amazing. I recommend
                                       this book to anyone who love fairy tales or complex
                                       stories. I can't wait to see if it has a sequel!

Birthday Part 1

I had my birthday recently and decided to review two books with the theme of "birthdays" in them. Ironically they are both about twins. (I am not a twin, but find them interesting.) Now for the first book.
 Title: Jake and Lily
                                     # of Pages: 352
                                     Author: Jerry Spinelli
                                     Previous Work:
                                                     
                                                      Crash
                                                    
                                                      Maniac Magee
                                    
                                                      Milkweed
                                                      
                                                       Stargirl
   
                                                       Wringer
       
                                                       And many other books
              
                                      Summary: Jake and Lily are unusually close for twins. They
                                      just don't know how close until their sixth birthday. They find
                                      themselves on the train platform, which the train they born on
                                      passed. And this continues for many years. That was only the
                                      first of many strange occurences that include moving bruises,
                                      being able to hear each other from miles away, and most
                                      uniquely being able to read each other's minds. Lily knows
                                      their power needs a name and calls it Goombla. But as the
                                      years go on they grow farther apart and their Goombla starts
                                      dissapearing. Lily is on a mission to get it back.
                                      Rating: I give this book a 1.
                                      Awards: This book has no awards.
                                      Opinion: This book is really interesting. It is told from the
                                      point of view of both twins which is nice. Another thing I
                                      like is that the characters seem very real. But this book
                                      isn't one of the best Jerry Spinelli books. It is amusing but
                                      not a book you HAVE to read.

                                        
                                                    

Girl Power

 Title: The Trials of Kate Hope
                                      # of Pages: 336
                                      Author: Wick Downing
                                      Previous Work: 
                                                          Kid Curry's Last Ride

                                                          Leonardo's Hand
                                                         
                                                          And many books for adults.

                                      Summary: Kate was just a normal girl who lived in 1973.
                                      Normal, except for the fact that she had the credentials to
                                      be a lawyer. But, as if being a girl in a man's profession isn't
                                      hard enough, she's fourteen, and no one will give her any
                                      cases. When an old woman's dog, Herman is going to be
                                      put down, or "Destroyed" for, allegedly, hurting a baby,
                                      Kate steps in to help.
                                      Rating: I give this book a 2. (Remember on my scale that
                                      doesn't mean 'bad'.)
                                      Awards: None.
                                      Opinion: This is an awesome book, based on the themes of
                                       protecting the innocent and believing in yourself, no matter
                                       the obstacles. Despite those lofty ideas, this book is not boring
                                       as paste, or so sweet you need to put the book down from
                                       nausea. Plus all legal terms are explained.  Kate's so... normal
                                       that you can't help but love her. She's daring, and definitely
                                       the devil's advocate, which helps her in the courtroom. She's
                                       not afraid of dirty work. She has a crush on her friend, Mike,
                                       and struggles to get over the death of her father and brother.
                                       Basically, because of Kate Hope, this book is ruled in favor of
                                       Kate, by me! (Sorry, couldn't resist the pun!)